Helen Schuler Nature Centre -- LNN

By Sarah Jones

Helen Schuler Nature Centre – engaging the public with outdoor activities

Apr 18, 2021 | 9:20 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — If you’ve taken a walk down in the river bottom within the past year, you may have come across signs that include fun activities from the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. Operation’s for the centre have been closed for the past year, and its pushed them to get creative on how they interact with guests; and how they can encourage individuals to get outside and enjoy the beautiful parks around town.

Fun activities have been hidden throughout the river bottom, and city parks since June of last year. Each activity ranges’s from location to location to engage the public to get outside and learn some interesting facts about nearby wildlife and native foliage. Since the start of the pandemic, over 35 individual activities have taken place around town.

“It’s been a bit of an experiment…” says Jessica Deacon-Rogers, Program Coordinator at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. “For example: over Easter we had an Easter Egg hunt that we called Nest-Fest. It was down in the river valley by the nature centre and we had signs that has pictures of bird’s nest’s on them, and then we hid eggs that would match with that bird, in the trees and bushes by the trail.” She continued by saying “It’s kind of a fun way for people to learn about birds that nest in the river valley and what their eggs actually look like.”

Helen Schuler visitor — photo credit to Carissa-Lynn Stretch

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Rogers explains that it’s a group effort from their creative staff members to help decide with what kind of fun projects will take place around the city. Most activities are seasonally based which help’s decide what they’ll focus on in coming weeks. Their team is currently in the works of creating an activity based around wildflowers found in the region starting in June. As many of the activities are taking place outside, staff are constantly trying to figure out new ways to engage the public.

Activities are normally only put on for two to four weeks at a time, meaning theres alway’s a new reason to get out and explore something new. Staff and volunteer’s of the Nature Centre help with putting up signs and monitor placements, to ensure nothing’s being blown away by the Lethbridge wind or being vandalized. Jessica says volunteer’s have been extremely important in helping with their operations, “It’s been super helpful having their assistance, we wouldnt be able to have that many different installations without help from other people.”

If you’re looking to help join in on the fun at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre in the future you can apply to volunteer here: https://naturecentre.ca/volunteer

Feedback received online has expressed that many families have been enjoying their time participating in these fun endeavors, it’s estimated that over 22 thousand people have engaged with these activities in the past year.

Helen Schuler visitor on a trail — photo credit to Helen Schuer

Last spring the centre had an eye-spy game that required looking for a purple wildflower’s, participants were tasked with keeping their eyes peeled for as many flower’s as they could see. Signs detailed important characteristics of the flower and gave a bit of informations on the species.

“It’s been a great way for people to learn different things outside and getting to see the world around them in a different way.” – Jessica Rogers, Helen Schuler Nature Centre.

Another way the centre is still engaging with the public is by offering family field trip programs, booking’s can have up to nine people, and include a one hour guided tour through the river bottom. Before booking you can choose from several seasonal topics that will allow participants to have an in-depth tour on whatever they choose.

Rogers attribute’s their continued success throughout the pandemic to what lies just beyond the centre.

“One of the thing’s that has remained open throughout the entire pandemic is… outside. And for us it’s a huge opportunity to be able to get people outdoors, learning about the place we live, and doing activities outside with family and friends.”

Along with fun activities, Helen Schuler Nature Centre has been a leader for environmental conservation within our city. Some other volunteer positions range from Shoreline Cleanup starting on the first Saturday of every month, a Weed pulling team that meets the third Wednesday of each month, and the most known group starting just next week… the Coulee Clean Up.

Last year the annual activity was postponed due to COVID-19, with strict restrictions still in place they’re encouraging people from the same cohort to create small team’s; in helping with the clean up of river valley parks. Litter can negatively impact the overall health and aesthetic of the local environment and these initiatives can help preserve sensitive habitats.

Coulee Clean Up applications are now open, and will be happening from April 22 to May 31.